Abstract
BackgroundPrimary health care research is under pressure to be accountable to funders in terms of benefits for practice and policy. However, methods to assess the impact of primary health care research must be appropriate to use with the diverse topics, settings and approaches of this sector. This project explored the feasibility of using the Buxton and Hanney Payback Framework to determine the impact of a stratified random sample (n = 4) of competitively funded, primary health care research projects.MethodsThe project conducted telephone interviews based on the Payback Framework with leaders of the research teams and nominated users of their research, used bibliometric methods for assessing impact through publication outputs and obtained documentary evidence of impact where possible. The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of the data collection methods and the applicability of the Payback Framework, and any other issues which arose around the assessment of impact of primary health care research.Results and discussionThe thirteen interviews were resource intensive to organise conduct and analyse but provided better information about impact than bibliometric analysis or documentary analysis. Bibliometric analysis of the papers published from the four projects was hampered by the inclusion of only one of the journals in major citation indexes. Document analysis provided more evidence of dissemination than of impact.The payback framework and logic model were a sound basis for assessing impact. Chief investigators and nominated users of research provided substantial information relevant to the impact categories closest to their spheres of influence and awareness, but less about the impact their research had on the wider health sector, population health or economic benefits. An additional category of impact emerged from the interviews, that of strengthening research networks which could enhance the impact of later work. The framework provided rich information about the pathways to impact, better understanding of which may enhance impact.ConclusionIt is feasible to use the Buxton and Hanney Payback framework and logic model to determine the proximal impacts of primary health care research. Though resource intensive, telephone interviews of chief investigators and nominated users provided rich information.
Highlights
Primary health care research is under pressure to be accountable to funders in terms of benefits for practice and policy
An additional category of impact emerged from the interviews, that of strengthening research networks which could enhance the impact of later work
It is feasible to use the Buxton and Hanney Payback framework and logic model to determine the proximal impacts of primary health care research
Summary
Primary health care research is under pressure to be accountable to funders in terms of benefits for practice and policy. Methods to assess the impact of primary health care research must be appropriate to use with the diverse topics, settings and approaches of this sector This project explored the feasibility of using the Buxton and Hanney Payback Framework to determine the impact of a stratified random sample (n = 4) of competitively funded, primary health care research projects. The Australian primary health care research sector has grown in strength and quality with the advent of the PHCRED strategy in 2000, but in a highly competitive funding environment its continued funding will be influenced by the perceived impact of research on practice and policy in this sector This project was driven by the need to assess the impact of primary health care research, despite particular challenges due to the breadth of this complex sector with its diverse topics, settings, research methods and approaches. The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of the data collection methods and the applicability of the Payback Framework, and any other issues which arose around the assessment of impact of primary health care research
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